preparation before taping plasterboard joints question?

Hi All ,

Just a quick one before I start taping my drywall/plasterboard joins .

I have several joins where I had to cut the plasterboard to fit and there are small pieces of the paper coating sticking down from the ceiling at the joins ( similar to torn paper edges) .

Before I start applying the mesh tape and filler is it an idea to sand the surface . The reason I ask is that I am concerned that I will sand through the paper coating and reveal the plaster core.

I am not skimming the ceiling just taping and filling before painting .

Thank in advance for any help and advice given

Glenn

Are these tears simple where the board has been cut? If you should be okay, using self-adhesive nylon tape and jointing compound, without any further preparation.

Hi Prince,
Thanks for your reply, yes they are tears where the board has been cut . I've taped them over with the mesh tape and applied first coat
of joint filler ( ready mixed from Wickes).

I know I have to sand this down (oh Joy!) but there are bits of the mesh tape still visible and I'm concerned about sanding through these .

Should I sand around these ? , or put a second coat of joint filler on until they're not visible and then sand these down ?.

Any advice very gratefully received

Thanks

Glenn

Really should not be using joint filler (it maybe your terminology is incorrect or branded incorrectly), you need to use joint compound/joint cement. I know WIckes do one, but easifill is the best product.
Anyway the joint taping process normally take 2 possibly 3 applications and on the butted edges, which will be square rather than tapered, you need to give a good spread over the joint to feather in out to look flat and even.
Gently sand down after each application has dried, then reapply compound spreading over greater area than the previous one. I generally do the first application that flattens tape and cover joint about 6", then second application covering 10" and third 12". It is a dusty process and worth wearing PPE. If there are any imperfections you can always reapply a little more compound to that area. Sandpaper 180-220 grit.